Fire and Sword Read Free Page B

family.
    ‘British soldiers killed them?’ she said in disbelief.
    He nodded grimly. ‘That’s what I find hard to accept. It’s so untypical. There were no foraging parties out. His Grace, the Duke of Marlborough, always makes sure our army is fully provisioned so that it never has to be a burden on any farms nearby. More to the point,’ he went on, earnestly, ‘he’d never condone rape and pillage. I was shocked that anyone in a British uniform could behave like that.’
    ‘Could you find out who those soldiers were?’
    ‘I’ll make it my business to do so,’ he said. ‘I’ve made some enquiries already but nobody knows of any patrol that might have been in that area. I won’t stop looking,’ he vowed. ‘That farmer saved my life by putting his own in danger. However long it may take, what happened to him and his family needs to be avenged.’
    ‘It must have been a gruesome sight.’
    ‘It was, Amalia. I’ve been forced to see some hideous things in battle over the years and accepted them as the fortunes of war. This was very different – kind, innocent, defenceless people, left dead in the smoking ruins of their home. It’s preyed on my mind ever since.’
    ‘I’m not surprised,’ she said, touching his arm in sympathy.
    ‘However,’ he went on, brightening, ‘I didn’t come here to dwell on the miseries of warfare. You’ve seen enough of those for yourself at first hand. I came because I missed you so much.’
    ‘How long will you be in Amsterdam?’
    ‘Only for a couple of days, I fear.’
    Her face clouded. ‘Is that all?’
    ‘I have to sail for England.’
    ‘Can’t you stay here for a week at least?’
    ‘My passage is already booked,’ he explained, ‘and His Grace is expecting me.’
    ‘Tell him you had to spend more time with Father, advising him about his tapestry of the battle of Ramillies. After all, it was commissioned by the Duke himself and he ordered you to help.’
    ‘I’ve spoken to your father at great length about the battle and he must already be well advanced on the tapestry.’
    ‘Not at all,’ she said. ‘Her Grace, the Duchess of Marlborough, wrote to say that there was no immediate hurry. It may be years before it can be hung in Blenheim Palace. Building work is very slow, apparently. Father is engaged on other commissions at the moment. You’d have to jog his memory about Ramillies.’
    Daniel sighed. ‘I’ll have to jog my own memory,’ heconfessed. ‘It seems such a long time ago now. When we routed the French that glorious day, I thought it would be a turning point in the war and that King Louis would agree to peace on our terms.’
    ‘Father says that he’ll never concede defeat.’
    ‘Failing that, I hoped that we could build on the success of Ramillies in last year’s campaigns and strike into France itself but, somehow, it just didn’t happen. We had endless disappointments.’
    She smiled sadly. ‘I know all about disappointments.’
    ‘Cheer up, Amalia,’ he said, kissing her on the cheek. ‘Make the most of me while I am here. I only have one other call to make and then I’m entirely at your disposal.’
    ‘I think I can guess what that other call is.’
    ‘I have to pay my respects to another very special woman.’
    ‘You want to visit your mother’s grave.’
    ‘She was born and brought up in the city. Though she enjoyed living in England with my father, she felt that it was only right that she should be buried here.’
    ‘An English father and a Dutch mother,’ she observed.
    ‘It’s a case of divided loyalties.’
    ‘Which has the stronger pull on you?’
    ‘Each of them.’
    ‘That doesn’t make sense, Daniel.’
    ‘It does to me,’ he said. ‘When I’m fighting in a British regiment, I feel English blood coursing through my veins and a sense of true patriotism. When I’m here in Amsterdam,however,’ he continued, pulling her close and looking deep into her eyes, ‘I feel as Dutch as a field of tulips